1840s Karl Bodmer Aquatint - Woman of the Snake Tribe

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Clearance Sale - Ancient / Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

Aug 16, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-08-16 10:00:00 2018-08-16 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Clearance Sale - Ancient / Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/clearance-sale---ancient-ethnographic-art-3368
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• Lot Description
  **Originally Listed At $1000**
  
  Karl Bodmer (Swiss-born, 1809-1893). "Woman of the Snake Tribe. Woman of the Cree Tribe." (Tableau 33 from the atlas to the journal of Prince Maximilian of Wied ("Travels in the Interior of North America"); Paris, Coblenz, and London: published 1839-1842. An original hand-colored aquatint engraving by Legrand after Bodmer (see blind stamp) from "Travels in the Interior of North America". Set in a stunning custom burl wood frame under UV protection glass. A fine double portrait created by Bodmer from two individual portraits that were executed at Fort Union and Fort McKenzie. The figure on the left represents a Shoshone (or Shoshoni) woman who was the wife of Marcereau, a fur company employee based at Fort McKenzie. Bodmer sketched her in 1833. Several Shoshone women who had been captured by the Blackfeet from their home territory west of the Rocky Mountains were reportedly at the Fort. Size: 21" W x 16" H (53.3 cm x 40.6 cm); 38" W x 30.75" H (96.5 cm x 78.1 cm) including frame
  
  On the right is a Cree woman, who was married to Deschamps, a hunter who had been employed by the fur company. Bodmer sketched her in October 1833 at Fort Union when the party was relocating from Fort Mckenzie back down to Fort Clarke for the winter. Note the striated, blue-black tattoos/face paint adorning her chin. These patterns were quite characteristic of the Cree.
  
  Karl Bodmer's works demonstrate his immense technical virtuosity and during their day provided a detailed image of a previously little known (and unfortunately not long for this world) way of life. Prince Maximilian zu Wied-Neuwied (1782-1867) invited Bodmer to create a visual record of his travels in North America, primarily to learn more about the Plains Indians in this era prior to the invention of the camera. The pair along with David Dreidoppel, the Prince's hunting companion and servant, traveled from 1832 to 1834. They landed in Boston in July 1832, then traveled to Philadelphia, where Napoleon Bonaparte's elder brother Joseph hosted them. Next, they headed west via Pennsylvania across the Alleghenies to Pittsburgh and the Ohio country, all the while visiting important German settlements - the utopian colony of New Harmony in Indiana being a particularly important stop. It was there that the Prince spent five months in the company of some of the countries leading experts, and studied informative literature about the American frontier. On March 1833, the party reached St. Louis, Missouri, and set off on their journey to meet and learn about Native Americans.
  
  The trio left St. Louis aboard the steamer known as Yellow Stone on April 10, 1833. Proceeding up the perilous Missouri River following the line of forts established by the American Fur Company, they first met Native Americans at Bellevue; next, they met the Sioux peoples, all the while learning everything they could and recording the little known ceremonial dances and customs. Next, they transferred from the Yellow Stone to the Assinboine steamer, and continued to Fort Clark, visiting the Mandan, Crow, and Mintari tribes, and then the Assinboins at Fort Union, which was the primary base of the American Fur Company. They next boarded a smaller vessel to travel through the geological region of that section of the Missouri to Fort Mackenzie in Montana, where they cautiously established a friendship with the legendarily fierce Blackfeet. This was their westernmost point, as it was considered much too dangerous to continue on. Hence, they returned downstream, and the winter months presented their own set of challenges. However, Bodmer continued to create magnificent studies of the peoples, dances, and villages.
  
  Note the complete title: "Schlangen Indianerinn. Indienne Serpent. Woman of the Snake Tribe" (left portrait); "Crih-Indianerinn. Indienne Crih. Woman of the Cree Tribe" (right portrait). Beneath the image: "Peint d'apres nat. par Ch. Bodmer." (left); "Imp. De Bougard." (center); "Grave par R. Legrand." (right). Finally, "Coblenz bei J. Holscher - London published by Ackermann and Co. 96 Strand - Paris Arthus Bertrand, editeur."
  
  A Bodmer "Woman of the Snake Tribe. Woman of the Cree Tribe" engraving (though not hand-colored and not custom framed like the one featured here) is listed for $1500 by Donald Heald. (https://www.donaldheald.com/pages/books/20087/karl-bodmer/woman-of-the-snake-tribe-woman-of-the-cree-tribe)
  
  Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #134555

  Condition

  Slight foxing to the image. Minor crease on lower right. Very defined plate mark. Nice Karl Bodmer blind stamp at lower center. This framing has been executed to full museum standards using the highest quality frames and mats. It also incorporates a very high level of craftsmanship with exceptional design choices.
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